Zambia's high stakes elections

Wednesday, 10 August 2016 Ronak Gopaldas

A new electoral process, rapidly shifting political allegiances, the intensity of political campaigning, unprecedented levels of political intimidation and a weak economy have all contributed to raising the political temperature in Zambia, as the country goes to the polls on 11 August.

Telecoms: Vodafone, Afrimax to launch data services in Zambia

Monday, 06 June 2016 Tanisha Heiberg

Vodafone Group said on Monday it will launch its high-speed mobile data services in Zambia jointly with unlisted telecoms provider Afrimax, tapping growing demand for data-heavy services on the continent.

Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa will likely slow this year to its weakest in nearly two decades, hurt by a slump in commodity prices, the Ebola virus outbreak and drought, the IMF said on Tuesday.

Africans investing in Africa

Thursday, 28 April 2016 Emilie Filou

After a day and a half of high-level discussions at an Africa investment conference, Arnold Ekpe, non-executive chairman of financial services holding firm Atlas Mara and former chief executive of Ecobank, sounds slightly exasperated. "African countries are not doing enough for themselves," he says. "I have been going to conferences like this for 20 years. We have to move from talk to action."

A time for alliances in Zambia

Growth: After the crash, the fightback

Tuesday, 12 April 2016 Patrick Smith in Freetown and Crystal Orderson in Cape Town

Sierra Leone, which earns 85% of its foreign exchange from mineral exports, has been devastated; economies as big as South Africa's and Nigeria's are also struggling. Now, leaders and activists are trying more nationalist tactics against the resource curse.

Mining: Zambia approves price-based royalties for copper mines

Thursday, 18 February 2016 Chris Mfula

Zambia's cabinet has approved a new royalty system that varies depending on the copper price as Africa's second-biggest producer seeks to keep struggling mines open and limit job losses, government said on Wednesday.

Sub-Saharan African sugar producers will shift sales to growing regional and domestic markets when exports to the European Union become less attractive after production quotas are dismantled in 2017, industry sources and analysts said last week.

Plentiful polls across Africa in 2016, as old guard hold on to power at all costs

Friday, 29 January 2016 The Africa Report

The year 2015 hosted a bumper crop of high-stakes elections, and 2016 brings more of the same. A major trend involves presidents seeking to hold on to power for as long as possible by almost any means necessary.

Zimbabwe: Mining firms, farmers oppose power tariff hike

Wednesday, 20 January 2016 MacDonald Dzirutwe

Zimbabwe's mining companies and farmers are resisting a proposal to raise electricity tariffs by 42 percent, arguing that the increase would hurt an economy struggling with low commodity prices and a drought.